Real-Time Long-Range Control of an Autonomous UAV Using 4G LTE Network

The operational range and reliability of most commercially available UAVs employed in surveillance, agriculture, and infrastructure inspection missions are limited due to the use of short-range radio frequency connections. To alleviate this issue, the present work investigates the possibility of real-time long-distance UAV control using a commercial 4G LTE network. The proposed system setup consists of a Raspberry Pi 4B as the onboard computer, connected to a Pixhawk-2.4 flight controller mounted on an F450 quadcopter platform. Flight tests were carried out in open-field conditions at altitudes up to 50 m above ground level (AGL). Communication between the UAV and the ground control station is established using TCP and UDP protocols. The flight tests demonstrated stable remote control operation, maintaining an average control delay of under 150 ms and a video quality resolution of 640×480, while the LTE bandwidth ranging from 3 Mbps to 55 Mbps. The farthest recorded test distance of around 4200 km from the UAV to the operator also indicates the capability of LTE systems for beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. The results show that 4G LTE offers an effective method for extending UAV range at a reasonable cost, but there are limitations in terms of network performance, flight time and regulatory compliance. This study establishes essential groundwork for future UAV operations that will utilize 5G/6G and satellite communication systems.